Etoile cancel trip to Nigeria

Kenya’s Sofapaka carry on their quest to win the Confederation Cuo

Tunisian club side Etoile du Sahel have called off their trip to Nigeria this weekend for a Confederation Cup match, citing security fears.

Etoile were scheduled to play Kaduna United in Kaduna in a third round, first-leg match on Sunday but have cancelled their trip to the west African country because of post-election violence.

Kaduna has been at the centre of the post-election violence which has seen the deaths of 32 people, according to the police in Kaduna.

Riots broke out on Monday when President Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner of presidential elections in Nigeria.

Kaduna and Bauchi are the worst affected areas of the upheaval.

Etoile say they were ready to make the journey until a report from the Tunisian embassy in Nigeria advised them against travelling to the west African country.

The Tunisian side will be banned for two years from continental competition if they fail to travel for the game if they fail to get approval from Caf.

“We received an official diplomatic message from the Tunisian ambassador in Nigeria that it isn’t possible, and that we shouldn’t consider the trip no matter what the fines or possible sporting sanctions are. This was said explicitly,” Etoile director Houssein Jnayeh said.

“They said there was close to a 90 percent chance that we’d suffer casualties during our trip to Nigeria if we went at the moment. The American embassy said the same thing.

“Add to that the resignation of the Nigerian Minister of Interior yesterday, the lack of safety, the number of killed and wounded, and the chaos. We just couldn’t take such a risk.”

Meanwhile Kaduna United have admitted that it is unsafe for the game to be hosted in Kaduna and have now shifted it to Abeokuta.

“We had no choice than to find an alternative place for our match,” media officer for Kaduna United, Abdulrahman Tonga, said.

“You know there have been some problems here and there and the state is even under curfew for now, so playing the match in Kaduna will not be possible.”

Caf is meeting to decide on the next line of action.

see also

related bbc links:

related internet links:

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites